Cooperatove Conservation Project
COOPERATIVE CONSERVATION CASE STUDY

Helping Indian Tribes Manage Natural Resources

Conservation on the Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation

Location: Far West Region: Nevada

Project Summary: The Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe recently completed a Comprehensive Resource Management Plan with the assistance of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service on their 475,000 acre Reservation.
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A riparian restoration project on the Truckee River helps to enhance habitat for threatened and endangered fish species. Photo by Deb Prevost, NRCS, Nevada.
Resource Challenge
The Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation is the largest Reservation in Nevada, in both acreage and population.  Its natural resources are diverse and complex.  Pyramid Lake and the Truckee River system are important habitats for the endemic and endangered Cui-ui and the threatened Lahontan Cutthroat Trout. More than 80 different ecological sites and five Major Land Resource Areas occur on the Reservation.  Multiple land uses and resource concerns, combined with upstream urban environmental and political effects, add to the complexity of resource management for the Tribe. 
Examples of Key Partners

The Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe has several departments that cooperate with numerous Federal and State agencies to address their resource and environmental problems. The USDA NRCS provided technical assistance to help the tribe to develop a Reservation-wide plan to consolidate the information from these diverse projects into one Comprehensive Resource Management Plan.   Participating agencies incluse the Bureau of Indian Affairs, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Defense, Cooperative Extension Service, and the Nevada Department of Wildlife.

 

 

 

 

 

Results and Accomplishments

The final draft of the Comprehensive Resource Management Plan will soon be presented to the Tribal Council for formal approval.  The completed document will help the tribe:

·    Utilize resource inventory information to identify priorities for resource conservation and enhancement; ·    Consolidate and enhance the use of resource management plans and supporting data to protect, preserve, and improve the natural resources;

·    Utilize cost-share programs, such as the Environmental Quality Incentives and Wildlife Habitat Improvement Programs.

·    Make wise management decisions based on analysis of the best available scientific data and traditional knowledge;

·    Conserve and improve the natural resources of tribal lands for cultural and ceremonial purposes for future generations

·    Improve program coordination and implementation between tribal departments responsible for resource management and tribal members who utilize the natural resources;

·    Promote coordinated partnerships with external resource management agencies and consultants;

·    Provide a well documented plan to pursue needed funding to implement tribal resource priorities.

Innovation/Highlight

Numerous Federal Agencies have played a part in the assessment of tribal natural resources and in implementing various conservation projects.

Project Contact
Deb Prevost
Resource Conservationist
USDA NRCS
1365 Corporate Blvd.
Reno, NV 89502
(775) 857-8500 x 144
deb.prevost@nv.usda.gov
Liz Warner
Public Affairs Specialist
USDA NRCS
1365 Corporate Blvd.
Reno, NV 89502
(775) 859-8500 x 105
liz.warner@nv.usda.gov
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